Measuring in-situ MDF velocity of detonation
AssigneeSandia Corporation
InventorsFrank M. Horine, Forrest B. James, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for determining the velocity of detonation of a mild detonation fuse mounted on the surface of a device includes placing the device in a predetermined position with respect to an apparatus that carries a couple of sensors that sense the passage of a detonation wave at first and second spaced locations along the fuse. The sensors operate a timer and the time and distance between the locations is used to determine the velocity of detonation. The sensors are preferably electrical contacts that are held spaced from but close to the fuse such that expansion of the fuse caused by detonation causes the fuse to touch the contact, causing an electrical signal to actuate the timer.
Claims14
A method of determining velocity of detonation of a metal-clad explosive fuze that expands in diameter as it detonates along its length, comprising:
- placing a sensor spaced from and adjacent a first location on the fuze;
- placing a second sensor spaced from and adjacent a second location on the fuze;
- igniting the fuze at a third location on the fuze, wherein the fuze detonates along its length past the first and second locations, the expanded fuze being detected by each sensor as the fuze detonates at that sensor's location;
- and
- determining the velocity of detonation from the time difference between the actuation of each sensor;
- wherein the sensors are mounted on an apparatus and the fuze is in a groove on a device, wherein the placing steps comprise:
- holding the apparatus against the device in a fixed position with the first and second sensors vertically aligned with the respective first and second locations;
- moving each sensor toward the fuze until it contacts the fuze;
- and
- moving each sensor to a sensing position that does not contact the fuze before detonation, and that will be contacted by the detonated fuze.
An apparatus for measuring the velocity of detonation in a mild detonation fuze extending in a groove on the surface of a device, the device including an igniter at one end of the fuze, said apparatus comprising:
- a first sensor spaced from and adjacent a first location on the fuze;
- a second sensor spaced from and adjacent a second location on the fuze, the second location being further along the fuze from the ignition end than the first location, said first and second sensors being spaced sufficiently close to the fuze that detonation at a sensor location is detected by the respective sensor;
- registration structures operatively arranged to precisely position said first and second sensors with respect to the first and second locations, respectively;
- and
- a timer that is started when said first sensor detects an expanded fuze and is stopped when said second sensor detects an expanded fuze;
- wherein the velocity of detonation is calculated from time measured by said timer and the known distance between said first and second sensors.
A method of determining velocity of detonation of a metal-clad explosive fuze, which expands in diameter as it detonates along its length, the method comprising:
- placing a first sensor on a first module, wherein the first sensor is spaced from and adjacent a first location on the fuze, and wherein the fuze is placed on a second module;
- placing a second sensor on the first module, wherein the second sensor is spaced from and adjacent a second location on the fuze;
- positioning precisely the first and second sensors with respect to the first and second locations, respectively, using registration structures on the first module;
- igniting the fuze at a third location on the fuze, wherein the fuze detonates along its length past the first and second locations, the expanded fuze being detected by the first and second sensors as the fuze detonates at that sensor's location;
- and
- determining the velocity of detonation from the time difference between the actuation of the first and second sensors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.